Blogs
Read contributions of experiences and perspectives on the VCSE mental health sector, service delivery, mental health policy and other pertinent topics.
The Value of Culturally Competent Peer Support
Ella Dunthorne
Published: November 8, 2024
– Taimour Ahmed, Project Lead for Taraki’s Cha in the City Programme November is a special month for me because it marks half a decade of my journey with Taraki. In the space of 5 years, I have transitioned and grown from an attendee of Taraki’s peer support spaces to someone who now leads…
Read moreThe Importance of Black Maternal Mental Health
Ella Dunthorne
Published: September 24, 2024
Black women are more likely to experience perinatal mental health issues but less likely to receive support. Black Maternal Mental Health Week UK is the annual awareness week The Motherhood Group coordinates. It is a crucial initiative which focuses on the wellbeing of Black mothers and children and starts on the 23rd of September. The…
Read moreMaternal Mental Health
Ella Dunthorne
Published: May 1, 2024
Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is a seven-day campaign, organised by Perinatal Mental Health Partnership UK, focused on discussing mental health concerns before, during, and after pregnancy. This year the theme is “rediscovering you”. The Association of Mental Health Providers will highlight several of our members as part of our activities for the week to…
Read moreSupport for an Eating Disorder
Ella Dunthorne
Published: February 25, 2024
Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2024 is an annual awareness campaign, led by Beat, which takes place from 26 February to 3 March. It is a chance to share the realities of eating disorders to provide hope, support, and awareness for individuals and loved ones affected by eating disorders. An eating disorder is defined as a…
Read moreActs of Kindness
Ella Dunthorne
Published: February 16, 2024
Random Acts of Kindness Day is a vital opportunity to celebrate annually which encourages small moments of compassion towards ourselves and others. We know that practising kindness towards others can benefit our mental health and some studies have even shown that it can help prevent future mental ill-health too. Our partner, the Mental Health Foundation…
Read moreCaring for Your Mental Health During the Festive Season
Ella Dunthorne
Published: December 19, 2023
The festive season is often considered a time of joy, togetherness, and celebration. However, for many, the pressures and expectations which accompany the Christmas period can take a toll on mental wellbeing. Balancing the demands of festive preparations, social activities, and family expectations can be overwhelming. In this blog post, we will explore a range…
Read moreThe Mental Health Act Review: Reflecting on 5 Years of Advocacy and Calls to Reform
Association of Mental Health Providers
Published: December 13, 2023
December 2023 marks 5 years since Sir Professor Simon Wessley’s Independent Review of the Mental Health Act. The initial aims of this Independent Review were to confront racial inequalities faced by Black and Ethnic minority communities detained under the Mental Health Act, address the sharp rates in detention and modernise mental health-related processes, with the…
Read moreCoping with Stress: Stigma and Solutions
Ella Dunthorne
Published: November 2, 2023
Stress can help alert us to danger or ensure we are kept safe. However, too much stress can harm our mental and physical health. It is Stress Awareness Week, and this year’s theme is “Beyond Stress Management: From Stigma to Solutions”. In this blog post, we want to give you a clear overview of what…
Read moreGuest Blog: Youth Mental Health Day
Ella Dunthorne
Published: September 19, 2023
Today is Youth Mental Health Day, an opportunity to recognise the unique challenges that young people face and the positive impact support can bring. We are pleased to have a guest blog post written by our members No5 Young People who help young people to be brave, manage anxiety, and improve their mental health through…
Read moreGuest Blog: Suicide Prevention Day
Ella Dunthorne
Published: September 10, 2023
The Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector is essential in delivering early intervention and preventative support services to prevent mental health crises and suicides. The Government has found that “the suicide prevention VCSE sector saw an increase in the number of individuals seeking support – with some services seeing up to 20% more contacts…
Read moreReaping rewards ... but patiently
Greg Woolley
Published: July 31, 2023
On the Enterprise Development Programme participating organisations received a grant to support the development of their trading activity over 12 – 18 months. But beyond that period, we’ve been keen to retain contact, continuing our offer of other wrap-around support such as learning workshops, peer learning and check-ins with their Enterprise Development Manager. This has…
Read moreNational Schizophrenia Awareness Day
Ella Dunthorne
Published: July 25, 2023
National Schizophrenia Awareness Day takes place on 25 July and is an opportunity to highlight the difficulties millions of people living with a diagnosis of schizophrenia face and how we can tackle the stigma and discrimination which surrounds it. What are the symptoms of Schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a complex mental health condition that is related…
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